IT IS the Welsh racehorse that's a dead cert every time - to come in last.

IT IS the Welsh racehorse that's a dead cert every time - to come in last.

Now the owners and trainers of Llanfillin Lady, born and bred near the Powys village of Llanfyllin, have defended their mare after she was declared the worst racehorse in the country.

The horse is owned by Charles Stirling, who lives in Corbridge, Northumberland, but it was bred in Wales when he was master huntsman of the Tanatside Hunt 11 years ago.

It has been brutally described as a "a fat, tubed, lumbering hulk" in the newly-released form bible, Hunter Chasers and Point-to-Pointers 2004. Tubing is an operation to improve a horse's breathing.

Ian Mackenzie, one of three co-authors, said, "I have been assessing racehorses for 30 years and this is probably the worst that I have come across. She's not pretty and she's not quick."

The 1,200-page book says Llanfillin Lady has not only never finished in front of another horse, she has "never got within a fence of one".

But Mr Stirling said the community in Powys, who knew and reared Llanfillin Lady, would be outraged by the comments.

He said, "She was quite well known in the area and a lot of people in Wales will be rather angry with this description.

"She was broken in and was kept in Wales up to about 1998 and she was born at a farm near Llanfyllin and that is where she took the name.

"I would love to get a description of the man who wrote this! It is quite funny, but it is inaccurate because they describe her as fat."

Mr Stirling, 56, bred her from a mare he bought from a local farmer for £2,200.

The 11-year-old raced 10 times last year - her first competitive season - unseating her rider in one race and finishing last in the other nine.

But she has been used to teach his daughter Patience, 20, racing experience.

Mr Stirling said, "She is fit to race and I think this is a bit harsh. There must be worse horses which have fallen or hurt people and this one never did that. I am a very keen hunter and used to ride on her on the Tanatside Hunt. She jumps beautifully and we even have a video of her being born."

Mr Stirling, a chartered accountant in Newcastle, said the horse had raced last year but is having a year off.

Mr Stirling vowed the horse will be back on track next year once his daughter, Alexandra, 15, is old enough to ride in races.

He said, "Patience was only 19 when she raced and totally inexperienced but she enjoyed it all enormously. Whatever anyone says, she did have some success. She won £50 for coming third in one race."

Llanfillin Lady's trainers, Kevin and Anne Robson, have stables at Heddon-on-the-Wall, near Newcastle. Mrs Robson, who looks after six horses and has trained 10 winners in the past decade, said, "This is a little harsh.

"They clearly don't understand the circumstances of her running. The owner just wanted to give his daughter some racing experience.

"She's a very genuine, honest horse. When she did point-to-point she jumped everything beautifully, but she just isn't fast."

Karl Williams, of bookmakers Jack Brown, said, "There are many horses that don't make the racecourse. Thousands of horses never make it as far as that."